Shower mixer



July 5,l 1938. H. J. YOUNG l SHOWER MIXER Filed Sept. 30. 1935 7 um mw uw HIL J) N. f ---1M L Q 5 'H'. m/er:

ward Jurzg,

Patented July s', 193s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOWER MIXER Application September 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,733

9 `Claims.

to utilize a coiled bimetal thermostatic element,

not only for its permanency but for its simplicity in construction, installationvand operation; fur- V thermore, by the use of this type of 'thermo'- static element I am able to construct a mixer without the use of any springs. 'I'he construc- I tion, likewise adapts itself to a most desirable form of control and regulation, in that I am able to utilize a single, manually controlled valve element for opening and closing the outlet passage from the mixer and for effecting the desired temperature regulation of the outgoing mixture.v

As a further advantage in operation, I provide a balanced valve construction. so that the valve action is not affected-by variatlons'in the supply pressure. Other advantages and features of novelty will be pointed out hereinafter. 'I'he invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a shower mixer constructed in accordance with my invention, the cover plate being removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and l Figs.'3 and 4 are-sectional views on the lines 3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1.

- Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that there is provided a casing I 0, having inlet openings iI-I2 for cold and hot fluids respectively and an outlet I3 for mixed fluids. The opening il communicates with a cored passage I4, while the opening I2 communicates with a cored pas- 's Sage I5 which passages terminate in faced seats I-IT respectively. 'I'he outlet I3 communicates ,with a cored passage Il terminating in' avalve seat i9 as best shown in Fig. 2.

The regulating mechanism includes a casting 50 having ears 20 through whichy screws 2i. are pro-' jected in order to secure the casting against'the wallof the casing. The casting consists of a cored body having two hollow arms 22-23- withenlargements at their ends, the enlargements '55 each containing a check` valve 2l and a screen" 25,I the lower faces of the enlargements being shaped to fit the respective seats lB-I'l on the casing. At the junction of the arms the passages terminate in outlets to the space within the casing, the outlets being controlled by parallel, reciprocating, balanced valves 26-21. It will be noted that the valves are oppositely faced and .that when the valves are moved in unison one is opened as the otheris closed. The upper ends of the valves are connected to a lever 28 fulcrumed on a pivot pin 29 and arranged as a lever of the second order. When properly adjusted, as -shown in the' drawing, the total iiow of hot and cold uids past the two valves is substantially uniform at all times; that is, as the iiow of 15 one fluid is increased the now of the other iluid is correspondingly decreased and the volume of flow is unchanged by any manipulation of the hand controller, except by restricting the outlet opening to the point of use.

At the free end of the lever 28 is a pin and roller 30 adapted to be engaged by a yoke 3| fixed by means of screws 32a to the tangential end 33 of a coiled bimetal thermostatic element 3l. vIn its inner vend this element is bent to enter a slot 25 in `a core 35, the core being pivoted on short stub shafts 36-31, the outer ends of which are held e by screws 38-39 on the wall of the casing. To

a projecting portion of the core35 is secured an arm 40 having a boss Il thereon. i'I'his boss is 30 intended to lie between the annular flanges 12-43 formed on a stem M. On the inner end of the stem is mounted a valve I5 that controls the outlet passage I8 by cooperating with thevalve seat I9. 'Ihe stem is provided with threads 46 35 that engage with the threaded axial opening in vthe cover plate ",while an adjusting handle 48 with a pointer adapted to cooperate with a dial in the usual manner, is provided for controlling the stem. It will be noted that the stem projects 40 through an opening in the tangential end lof the thermostatic member, the opening being suincientiy large to avoid .any conict between the two parts in their respective movements.

Inl operation it will be seenthat on rotating 45 the handle and stem the valve I5 is moved `away from its seat permitting the passage ofthe requisite volume of cold water to a shower or other point of use. As the stem is moved outward under the action of the screw, the arm In As the temperature increases or iiuctuates from total inlet area of the valves.

that 'indicated by the setting, the bimetal coil will in due timeY correct the valve setting to restore the predetermined temperature for the outgoing fluid. t

When the stem is rotated to close the outlet valve. the core of the thermostat is rotated, thus swinging the tangential end 'thereof and closing the hot uid inlet (toY thev extent that it is at that time open) and correspondingly opening the cold iiuid inlet. This does not change the It will be seen that the hot and cold fluids enter the chamber formed by the hollow interior of the casing from both sides loi? the casting; that is, past both of the valve seatsassuming that theA respective valve is not entirely closed. Thus the fluids mix thoroughly and as the whole interior of the cas- -ing is lled withthe mixed liquids, the thermostat is instantly affected by any change in the temperature. The arrangement of the thermostatic coil is such that the coil expands as the temperature is lowered and the tangential end moves angularly outward, tending to carryl with it the arm 28 to which the-valves are attached. The clearance in one direction between the yoke 3l and the pin and roller' 30, together with the capacity for relative rotation permits the necessary adjustment Aoi?, thev end to the peculiar motion that follows a changeof dimensions of the coil. In this manner I am able to translate the rotary motion of the coil to a'moti'on that is suiliciently rectilinear to effect the necessary valve adjustment.

In order to avoid huntingthat is, constant motion of the valves, I provide the shieldplates 49 on both sides of the coil, closing the open ends thereof and include one or more perforations l5|),

y in the discs 49, as may be necessary to restrict the flow,of war round the coil and thus retard the response of the thermostat to changes in temperature.

The deviceis sure and accurate in action is substantially unaiected by changes in pressure and willioperate through long periods without attention. If necessary to clean the screen or provide other minor repairs, itis only necessary to remove the handle and cover, then remove the screws 2|-38-39, when the whole operating mechanism may be bodily lifted from the casing.

By the removal of screws 2l the valve assembly- 1. In combination, a casing having inletsA forV hot and cold fluids andan outlet for the mixed uids, a pair `of, parallel reversely positioned valves respectively controlling the entrance of hot and cold fluids to said casing; va lever of thel second order connected to said valves whereby movement of said lever serves-to open one valvek to the extent that it closes the other valve, a thermstatic element within said casing and connected to said lever, a manuallyvmovable valve viorcontrolling the outlet passage for the mixed fluids, and a connection between said manually movable valve and said thermostat for effecting adjustment of the thermostat, the movement of thethermostat by movement of said manually movable valve toward closing position serving to close the hot fluid inlet and open the cold uuid mien. y f

2. In combination, a casing having inlets for hot and'cold iluids and an outlet for the mixed fluids, a pair of reversely positioned valves respectively controlling-the entrance of hot and cold fluids to said casing, a bimetal thermostat within said casing, an end of which thermostat is connected to said valves whereby movemen of the thermostat serves to open one valve to the extent that it closes the other valve, a manually movable valve for controlling the outletV for the mixed iiuids, and a connection between said manually movable valve and said thermostat for eilecting adjustment of the thermostat, the movement of the thermostat by movement of said manually movable valve toward closing position serving to close the hot iluid inlet an'd open the cold fluid inlet.

3. In combination, a casing having inlets for hot and cold fluids and an outlet for the mixed iluids; a pair of reversely positioned valves respectively vcontrolling the entrance of hot and cold fluids to said casing, a bimetal coiled thervmostat pivotally'xnounted in said casing an end of which thermostat is connected to saidi valves,

whereby movement of the thermostat serves to open one valve to the extent that it closes the other valve, a manually movable valve for controlling the outlet passage for the mixed fluids,

and aconnection between said manually movable valve and thepivot on which saidjthermostat is mounted for effecting adjustment of said ther- 4. In a mixer, a combination ofv a casing having inlets for hot and cold fluids and anoutlet for the mixed fluids, balanced valve means controlling the entrance of hot and cold fluids to said casing, a. thermostat coil pivotally mounted t witlin the casing and connected to said inlet valve means at its free end, a manually movable valve for controlling said outlet passage, and

means connecting said manually movable valveA to the pivot for said thermostat whereby movement of said manually movable valve serves to vchange thel adjustment of said thermostat by rotating the same on its pivot, the movement of the thermostat by movement of said manually movable valve toward closing position serving to close the hot uld inlet and open the cold uid inlet.

5. In combination, a casing lhaving inlets for hot and cold iluids and an outlet forthe mixed fluids, balanced valve means for controlling thev entrance of hot and cold fluids to said casing, a coiled bimetal thermostat within said casing, a tangential end of which is connected to said valve means whereby movement of said valve means by said thermostat serves to open one valve to thel extent that lt closesthe other valve, said ithermostat being mounted for rotation on its axis, a manually movable valve having a stern for controlling the outlet for the mixed fluids anda connection between said stem and the mounting for-said thermostat whereby Amovement of said stem tends to rotate said `thermostat, the movement of the thermostat by`movement of said manually movable valve towardclosing position serving to'close theA hot fluid inlet and open-the cold fluid inlet.

6. In combination, 'a casing having inlets for hot and cold fluids and an outlet forithe mixed liiulds, al pair of parallel reversely positioned valves for controlling the entrance of hot and' 2,122,600 4cold fluids to said casing, a rcoiled blmetal thermostat within said casing, a tangential end of which is connected to said valves whereby movement of said valves by said thermostat serves to open one valve to the'extent that it closesvthe other valve, said thermostat being mounted for rotation on its axis, a, manually movable valve having a stem for controlling the outlet for the mixed fluids and a connection between said stem and the mounting for said thermostat whereby movement of said stem tends to rotate said thermostat, the movement of the thermostat by movement of said manually movable valve to- -ward closing position serving to close the hot fluid inlet and open the cold iluid inlet.

7. In combination, a casinghaving inlets for hot and cold fluids and an outlet for the mixed uids, valve means for controlling the entrance of hot and cold iluids to said casing, a coiled bimetal thermostat within said casing, a tangential end of which is connected to said valve means whereby movement of said valve means serves to open one valve to the extent that it closes the other valve, said thermostat Being mounted for.

rotation on an axial pivot, a manually movable valve having a stem l'or controlling the outlet passage ior the mixed fluids, said valve stem being threaded and mounted within the casing, an arm connected to the pivot for said thermostat, saidl armv being connected to the manually movable valve stem whereby axial movement of the stem'to open and close the outlet tends to rotate said thermostat and effect adjustment thereof, the movement of the thermostat by movement of said manually movable valve toward closing position serving to 'close the hot fluid inlet and open the cold fluid inlet.

8. In a shower mixer, the combination with a casing, having valves'for controlling the entrance of hot and cold fluids, a coiled bimetal thermostat for controlling the position of said valves, and means partially covering the open ends of said coiled thermostat whereby to shield the thermostat and retard its action under the influence of the temperature of the fluids passing through the casing.. i v

9. In combination, a casing having hot and cold lluid inlets and a mixed iiuid outlet, balanced valves controlling the hot and cold fluid inlets to the casing, a coiled bimetal thermostat within the casing, said coil having a tangential end directly connected to said valves for operating the same, a shut-oil? valve for controlling the outlet of the mixed'fluids from the casing, said valve having a stem, said thermostat being mounted on a core for rotation and means .connecting said stem and said core whereby longitudinal movement of the stem effects rotation of said core for changin'glthe adjustment of said thermostat and swinging the tangential end .thereof to change the positions of said valves.

' HOWARD J. YOUNG. 

